Reborn in 1977

Chapter 479: Return

The meeting ended on the 17th. After the meeting, Chen Fan did not leave immediately.

From the afternoon of the 17th, plus the entire 18th, he locked himself in his room and wrote a "novella" of more than 30,000 words, "Love of Cloud Lake."

Mainly because time was limited, and he was afraid of scaring others, which limited his performance. Otherwise, he could have expanded it to at least 300,000 words.

Ahem, it's not just padding.

Although the story is relatively simple and there are not many characters, there is still a lot of content that can be written.

For example, scenery descriptions, character appearance descriptions, psychological descriptions, environmental descriptions, as well as the psychological activities and expressions of the main characters on the same matter, and even the social views on the various behaviors of the male and female protagonists, all of which can be expanded.

Empathizing with the readers.

I miscalculated. I should have finished writing it before talking to He Qingsheng.

He thought about it and was still unwilling.

7 yuan per thousand words, a meager 30,000 words is only 210, but if it is expanded to 300,000 words through detailed descriptions, that would be 2100. Is there even a question of which to choose?

So on the evening of the 18th, Chen Fan found He Qingsheng again. He first adjusted his emotions, then knocked on the door and entered, with a tone containing three parts depression, three parts unwillingness, and four parts embarrassment, "Chairman He, I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you."

He Qingsheng was working on the Writers Association's work plan and was a little dazed when he heard Chen Fan's words.

How could he be disappointed?

He had agreed to do it yesterday, and now he's saying he won't do it?

I'm almost done with the procedures!

Chen Fan coughed dryly, glanced at the Platinum Dragon cigarettes on the table, stealthily reached for one, handed it over, and lit it for him.

He put one in his own mouth and exhaled a depressed puff of smoke, "These past few days, I've been working until midnight every day, spending four nights and one and a half days writing the first draft of 'Love of Cloud Lake.'"

"Love of Cloud Lake"?

He Qingsheng finally understood what was going on and breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he wasn't quitting.

In the current environment, it's not that there are definitely no people who dare to take over the position of Director of the European and American Division of the Foreign Liaison Department, but Chen Fan is the only one who can put his mind at ease, is qualified to conduct literary exchanges with outsiders, and is right in front of him.

If Chen Fan didn't do it, he really wouldn't know where to find someone for a while.

Hearing that it was "Love of Cloud Lake," he immediately felt relieved and laughed, "What's wrong, are you encountering difficulties in your writing?"

Chen Fan scratched his head and nodded, "These past few days, I've been racking my brains, and I've only written a 30,000-word outline. Regarding the suggestions made by the predecessors, I also have some insights, but the time is too short, and there's no way to write them all out. So I want to go back and slowly conceive, and then delve deeper into the several characters in the text. At the same time, I also need to think carefully about how to elevate the theme even further."

He said a lot, but He Qingsheng didn't hear anything else, only "30,000 words"?

It's only been a few days, only 4 days, and he still had to attend meetings and go shopping, and he wrote 30,000 words?

Stunned for two seconds, He Qingsheng came back to his senses and quickly nodded and said, "Oh, oh, it's okay, writing is like this, you have to try to refine it to produce good works."

After a pause, he couldn't help but click his tongue, "Did you bring your 30,000 words?"

Chen Fan flicked the cigarette ash, "It's not well written, I'm embarrassed to show it to people."

He Qingsheng waved his hand, "It's okay, let me take a look."

Then he asked him, "When are you planning to go back?"

Chen Fan, "Tomorrow morning."

He asked again, "Is Vice Chairman Guo going back to Cloud Lake? Do you want me to give him a ride?"

He was talking about Comrade Lao Guo, the deputy director of the Cloud Lake Zoo. He was elected as the vice chairman of this session of the Writers Association, mainly responsible for preparing the Cloud Lake Regional Branch of the Writers Association. He also wanted to pull Chen Fan in and give him a vice chairman position, but Chen Fan declined.

Lao Guo didn't care. Anyway, they were both members of the Provincial Writers Association and locals of Cloud Lake. It didn't matter whether he joined or not. Anyway, as long as he was still in Cloud Lake when the Writers Association had major events, he definitely couldn't escape.

He Qingsheng waved his hand, "He won't be back that soon, he still has some things to deal with, and he was originally a deputy director-level official, with a car assigned to him, so you don't have to worry about him."

Chen Fan's mouth twitched slightly. Well, he even had a driver.

He Qingsheng said again, "Give me the manuscript you wrote to take a look. It can be considered as giving you a check in advance. I'll return it to you before you leave tomorrow."

Chen Fan nodded and agreed without thinking.

Anyway, as long as it allows him to continue padding.

… …

The Jiangnan Writers Association had just been rebuilt, and there were thousands of things to do. When Chen Fan left, only He Qingsheng came to see him off.

He first handed the first draft of "Love of Cloud Lake" to Chen Fan, "It's well written, but the time is too tight, and the story plot and character descriptions are a bit rushed. You're right, it can be delved into."

"Regarding the issue of sublimating the theme, I also roughly looked at it, and the direction is right, but it's not that there are no problems."

His face was obviously a little hesitant, "Isn't there too much description of love and the capitalist's daughter?"

Chen Fan coughed dryly, "This is what I was thinking. The clearer the description, the more profound the reader's impression of the characters will be, and then when the reversal comes later, it can be even more touching."

He Qingsheng nodded slowly after listening, "That makes some sense."

He raised his head and looked at Chen Fan, and said sternly, "If this subject matter is written well, it will definitely shock the literary world, but the details must be grasped accurately, otherwise it will easily cause trouble."

"I wrote some comments on the manuscript, and you can think about it yourself later. They may not be right, but the relevant aspects must be considered in place."

"Now it's just a first draft, so I can't say too much. When you finish the final draft, we'll discuss it carefully."

Speaking of this, he pondered for two seconds, "Today is January 19th. We are going to have a meeting in the capital in March. We'd better finalize the draft before the meeting. At that time, I'll give it to Mao Dun, Ba Jin, and the others to take a look. If there are no problems, it can be published directly, maybe even in 'People's Literature'."

Chen Fan broke out in a cold sweat. How could he have poked those two in the face?

But don't say, He Qingsheng, as the chairman of the Jiangnan Provincial Branch, is really qualified to have face-to-face talks with those great writers, whether it's a casual chat or work, it's all the same.

It's just… …, how will "People's Literature" publish a novel estimated to be 300,000 words?

When getting on the car, He Qingsheng waved his hand, and a staff member immediately brought two bags.

He didn't hand them over himself, but directly asked someone to send them to the car, and said at the same time, "This is a souvenir from the meeting, everyone has one, take it."

Chen Fan was not polite, waved goodbye, and drove away.

… …

When he came, the road surface was wet, but it was still hard and did not affect the speed of the car at all. When he went back, it happened to be melting snow, and although there were few cars on the national highway, they never stopped. The whole thing was a bumpy mud.

The road surface like this was definitely not fast. He set off before eight o'clock in the morning, and the journey of just over two hundred to less than three hundred kilometers took more than eight hours. It was not until four o'clock in the afternoon that he slowly drove into the Health Department.

Political Work Section, everyone was seriously slacking off.

Sister Zhou was not staying in her office either, she pulled a chair and sat in the large office, sighing, "I spent a lot of favors to get Xiao Fan into the unit, but now the leaders of the higher-level units spoke, and they handed people over with both hands, wasting my efforts!"

Lin Liwen was趴on the table, her eyes full of curiosity, "Xiao Fan has really become a leader of the Provincial Writers Association?"

Xia Yuping curled her lips, "Is that still fake? People don't transfer people through us, they directly go through the relationship of the Health Department."

Speaking, she sighed long, "That's right, what is the Health Department compared to the Writers Association? Besides, Xiao Fan has been promoted by two levels, and he is a real department director. Water flows to low places, and people go to high places, which can be understood."

Sister Zhou was still a little indignant, "Understanding is understanding, but at least say hello in advance. A transfer order came inexplicably, and I was completely dumbfounded."

Speaking, she waved her hand, "I think this kid is unconscionable."

As soon as she finished speaking, a voice came from the door, "Who is talking bad about me behind my back?"

Everyone immediately turned to look at the door, only to see Chen Fan walking in leisurely with a bag in his hand.

Sister Zhou's face first showed joy, then deliberately put on a stern face, "I'm talking about you."

She looked someone up and down, "I haven't congratulated you yet, you've been promoted by two levels, and you're at the same level as me, haha. According to your promotion speed, maybe I'll have to call you leader next year."

Chen Fan laughed and put the bag on Sister Qin's desk, "Don't say anything about promotion, no matter when I see you, I have to call you sister."

The corner of Sister Zhou's mouth twitched, and she finally couldn't hold it back, "You're just shameless."

Then, he waved to his subordinates, "Everyone, go! No matter how much stuff they brought, don't leave anything behind."

Lin Liwen and Xia Yuping couldn't wait any longer and rushed forward, giggling. Sister Qin and Sister Yu also happily opened the bags. Several people gathered around, "Wow, so much stuff."

Chen Fan pointed to the bags, "No need to fight, there's a share for everyone. Hey, hey, Yuping, that's for Sister Zhou, don't grab it."

Xia Yuping turned and handed a small satchel to Sister Zhou, pouting and saying, "I knew we wouldn't get any of the good stuff."

Chen Fan said, "Hey, you're wronging me. It's just that even if I gave it to you, you wouldn't use it."

In this day and age, no young woman carries a satchel. They usually carry a canvas bag. Those who carry satchels are mostly middle-aged and elderly female comrades, and they look like cadres.

He added, "The stuff for you is in the bag, all things you can use regularly."

Wallets, folding scissors, folding knives, travel mugs... each person got several items, all things Chen Fan had bought wholesale from the department store.

Well, the travel mugs of this era were naturally not the plastic Fuguang cups of the 80s and 90s, nor stainless steel cups, but ceramic cups.

The cup body was made of ceramic, with exquisite patterns on it, and the lid was made of plastic. Nowadays, anything related to plastic is expensive. Such a cup costs several yuan.

(Travel mug in 1978)

Lin Liwen and the others were very satisfied with the gifts, gathering together and laughing non-stop.

Sister Zhou looked at the brown leather satchel, unzipped it, and found that there were many other small gifts inside. She nodded in satisfaction, then stood up and said, "Let's go, let's chat in my office and see what amazing position you've gotten, even promoted to deputy director."

Lin Liwen and the others gave Chen Fan a 'good luck' look and returned to their seats to play with their small gifts.

Chen Fan followed Sister Zhou into the office, first closed the door, and skillfully brewed two cups of tea.

Sister Zhou picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said directly, "Your file has just been transferred out, but according to the suggestions of the higher-level leaders, and of course, the requirements of our unit, we have set up a technical consultant position for you."

She shook her head with a wry smile, "A good full-time cadre suddenly became a consultant. I can't figure out how you did it?"

Chen Fan chuckled, "This wasn't my doing. It was Chairman He of the newly re-established Provincial Writers Association who arranged it."

Sister Zhou nodded in realization, "Just like when I transferred you to the Health Department a few months ago?"

She couldn't help but feel curious again, "Transferring you to the Health Department was because you invented the airway foreign body removal method. If we hadn't transferred you in, the entire leadership of our unit would have been saddled with the blame of 'not knowing how to recognize and use talent'.

But why the Writers Association? You're already a member of the Writers Association. Whether or not you hold a position in the organization doesn't have much impact, does it?"

Chen Fan didn't beat around the bush and explained the matter directly, finally laughing, "So, just like when I was in the Health Department, I'm just a figurehead in the Foreign Liaison Department of the Writers Association, not participating in any specific affairs. It's also giving Chairman He some face, so he doesn't have trouble finding a suitable person, and everyone will feel awkward if the organization's leadership isn't complete."

After listening to Chen Fan's words, Sister Zhou frowned slightly. She didn't ask why he didn't simply cancel the European and American branch of the Foreign Liaison Department.

Although the unit systems are different, the rules and principles are the same. If the higher-level organization establishes it, how can the branch not follow suit?

After pondering for two seconds, Sister Zhou said, "That's true, but this department is still a bit sensitive. What if a European or American author organization requests an exchange? What are you going to do?"

Chen Fan shrugged, picked up the teacup, took a sip, and laughed, "I'll do whatever needs to be done."

Seeing Sister Zhou's brow furrowed tightly, he smiled and said, "Firstly, the Writers Association is not the Health Department, and Chairman He is not you, Sister Zhou. I'm willing to work for the Health Department wholeheartedly..."

He shrugged again, "Although it seems like you don't have much for me to do."

Sister Zhou smiled, "Your presence in the Health Department is the greatest help to our unit."

Chen Fan smiled and continued, "In short, I don't owe the Writers Association any favors. If I feel something is wrong one day, I can resign from this position at any time, and the trouble won't stick to me."

Sister Zhou pursed her lips, looked at him, and said, "You do have a bit of an attitude of 'being free from desires makes one strong'."

Chen Fan leaned back in his chair and smiled, "That's how it is. From beginning to end, I haven't actively pursued these things. Even without the Health Department or the Machinery Factory, I can live a very good and satisfying life in Lujiawan."

Sister Zhou nodded gently, and the previous worry was completely dispelled. She smiled at him and said, "So, your plan is to be a mascot in the Writers Association and voluntarily give way when Chairman He finds a suitable candidate?"

The corners of Chen Fan's mouth couldn't help but widen, "Chairman He promised that when someone takes over, he will give me an honorary vice-chairman position. At that time, the treatment will be upgraded by another level, and I won't have to do anything."

He didn't know what the Writers Association would be like in the future, but the current Writers Association was indeed a good unit for loafing around.

In addition to full-time writers, there are roughly two types of writers who hold positions in the Writers Association. One is that they need to participate in work like other staff members, earning wages through labor, but they can also use their spare time to write and earn royalties.

The other is simply a nominal position.

The most common are positions such as vice-chairman and deputy director, who receive treatment but don't have to manage anything.

That is, openly loafing around.

Chen Fan is now doing the second type of idle job, and when this department really has tasks one day, and Chairman He finds a suitable person to take over, he can be promoted another level.

No, as a vice-chairman, it should be a promotion of two levels, but it needs to be operated in the middle, for example, he first works as the director of the Foreign Liaison Department for a few months, and then is elected as vice-chairman during the change of term.

But no matter how the position changes, it doesn't affect him from being a salted fish.

This is also one of the main reasons why he agreed to He Qingsheng.

As for another important reason, it is the opportunities hidden in this department.

Others are afraid of being associated with European and American countries, but he is not afraid!

Who doesn't know that we will establish diplomatic relations with the United States in a year? At that time, a large number of Western countries will follow suit.

Moreover, even now, many European and American countries have established diplomatic relations with our country, from the first neutral country, Switzerland, to the first Western country, Sweden, and later France, the United Kingdom... there are actually quite a few.

It's just that exchanges are not very frequent.

When the United States takes the lead, those countries will launch various exchange activities.

At that time, as the director of the European and American branch of the Foreign Liaison Department, Chen Fan will be afraid of not having the opportunity to go abroad?

You should know that in the early 1980s, writers were one of the groups who traveled abroad most frequently, perhaps even the most frequent.

The so-called people-to-people exchanges are largely cultural first, and which unit in the current domestic cultural circles dares to show its teeth in front of the Writers Association?

Taking a step back, many times it is not that the Writers Association wants these opportunities, but that the cultural products that went overseas in the early years were almost all literary works, so foreign visit invitations were basically sent to the Writers Association.

And they often specify that a certain writer must go.

Ye Junjian was so tired from running around with a head full of white hair.

Chen Fan is still young, he is not afraid of being tired, the key is that after going abroad, he has the opportunity to earn foreign exchange.

A few days ago, he wasn't so greedy, thinking about when he could restore the print royalties so that he could earn royalties openly.

It is said that pies fall from the sky.

This world is changing too fast. When he learned that the Writers Association had actually set up a Foreign Liaison Department and had the opportunity to go abroad for exchanges in the future, he knew that he also had to adjust his plan.

It's just that he didn't expect He Qingsheng to let him be the director of this European and American branch. He was still thinking about asking He Qingsheng for a place when there were activities.

Now it's good, the power is directly handed to him, he is too happy, how can he be afraid?!

What? Firmly refused before?

Where would the deputy director-level treatment come from without refusing?

These conditions are all negotiated!

After coming out of Sister Zhou's office, Chen Fan visited other main leaders of the Health Department, sent souvenirs, said some polite words, expressed his gratitude for the care of the leaders, and then drove the cleaned Jeep out of the yard and drove to his home.